US Navy Chooses General Atomics for Advanced Arresting Gear Program

US Navy Chooses General Atomics for Advanced Arresting Gear Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb 25, 2005

San Diego, California, 24 February 2005. The US Navy has selected a team led by General Atomics (GA) to perform the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) Program. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) down-selected from the two contractors performing the Component and Technology Development phase of the AAG program and has chosen GA to execute the SDD phase.

In the 5-year, $95.8-million SDD phase, the GA-led Team will design, develop, manufacture, install, and demonstrate a production-representative AAG unit. System installation and demonstration will be at a NAVAIR test facility at Lakehurst, NJ. Other team members are Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation, Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation, Foster-Miller, Inc., John J. McMullen Associates, Inc., and EDO Corporation.

Dr. Carmelo Rodriguez, the GA AAG Program Director, said "We are delighted to provide the US Navy with technology to recover existing and projected carrier-based aircraft well into the 21st century. The AAG will provide increased operational availability, while reducing manning, maintenance, and support costs, and significantly enhancing safety."

EMS Division Vice President, Mike Reed, says, "This is a great win for our Team. We all look forward to working with the Navy to provide the best possible Advanced Arresting Gear system. The new AAG system is designed to provide an improved arrestment of a wider range of aircraft with less maintenance and a reduced crew size. It will provide transformational technology by continuing the trend to advanced electric systems."